1. Radio
 / Modified jun 19, 2017 10:28 a.m.

Reid Park Zoo Closing Early This Week Due To Soaring Temperatures

The zoo wants to focus on caring for the animals throughout high-heat days, to resume normal hours Saturday.

lion cubs yawn hero image Lion cubs at the Reid Park Zoo yawn while resting in the shade.
Andrea Kelly, AZPM

The Reid Park Zoo announced it would be closing its doors at noon for the rest of the week starting Monday due to extreme temperatures predicted in the Tucson area.

The National Weather Service issued an excessive heat warning for Tucson through Saturday, when the zoo expects to resume the normal hours of 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

In a press release, the zoo said the animals there are adapted to the desert climate and have appropriate facilities to stay cool, but will close early so the staff can focus on caring for the animals, among them several elderly residents.

A high temperature of 114 was predicted for Monday, and 115 on Tuesday, according to the Weather Service.

MORE: Animals, News, Weather, Reid Park Zoo
By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona